Dillon Brooks became more famous with NBA fans after unsuccessfully trash talking LeBron James during the playoffs.
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Dillon Brooks’ contract with the Memphis Grizzlies may expire this offseason. According to NBA analyst Marc Stein, “there is also growing doubt league wide about the Grizzlies’ appetite to re-sign Brooks as he heads to free agency.” While Brooks became more well-known among basketball fans after unsuccessfully slanderous speech with LeBron James during the playoffs, he has evolved into a reliable secondary scoring option for the Grizzlies over the course of his six seasons with the team.
He averaged a career-best 18.4 points a night last season after posting 17.2 points per game the prior campaign. However, he took a step back during the 2022-23 campaign. The Oregon product saw his points per game drop to 14.3 and his field-goal percentage go from 43.2 to 39.6. He still brought some value on the defensive side, but the efficiency numbers in particular were a concern for a team that needs better shooters who can take advantage of the spacing created by Ja Morant’s drives.
The playoffs followed that. In Game 2 of Memphis’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooks and James engaged in a back-and-forth exchange. Brooks has never shied away from the opportunity to cause a stir on the court. But it was his remarks to reporters later, “I don’t care. He’s old. … I poke bears. I don’t respect no one till they come and give me 40.” The playoffs followed that. In Game 2 of Memphis’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooks and James engaged in a back-and-forth exchange. Brooks has never shied away from the opportunity to cause a stir on the court.
James was as dominant as always for Los Angeles as they went on to win the series in six games. Brooks was dismissed for a flagrant 2-foul on the King and didn’t even last into the following game. The NBA then stated that it had fined Brooks $25,000 for “failure to participate in team postgame media availability during the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs.” As if that weren’t bad enough, Brooks also received this punishment.
Read more: LeBron James the New All-time Leader in Playoff Series Won
General manager Zach Kleiman seemed less than eager for having the 27-year-old back when he stated, “It was a lot of noise for a role player. There were definitely some self created distractions in the series and along the way. We are going to take a different approach (next season).” He further exclaimed that he will “hit on Dillon another day,” when specifically questioned about the swingman. Brooks might end up seeking out another team after that incident.
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